Sheet-metal loading for freight cars



All8 l2 1930 V x11-.momma` SHEET ETL LOADING FOR FREIGHT @ARS una .nin 23, 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. .1,2, 1930. R. T. novum-: l

SHEET 'METAL LOADING POR FREIGHT CARS una .nm 23. 1926 zsheets-sneet 2 nl lul-1111111] INVENTDR- mi by ATTDR'NEY- Patented Aug. 12,` 193e UNITED STATES ROBERT T. BOHINE, F MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN SHEET-METAL LOADING FOB FREIGHT CARS Application lcd June 23,

This invention relates to an apparatus for loading and packing metal in freight cars animproved 'binding or loading apparatusr 1 capable of sustaining vand resisting more fully any whipping or weaving action of the metal sheets caused by vibrations of the freight car and the shocks and collisions to which the cars are subjected in transit.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus capable of binding sheet steel or other metal in large piles or@ stacks, such as in bundles approximating five to ten tons, in which the weight of the apparatus is reduced but at the same time greater strength and flexibility is obtained, as a result of which improvement a stack of sheet steel, for instance, may be held intact without relative shifting of the sheets and irrespective of any shifting movement ofthe bundle as a whole on the car iioor due to unusual shocks or jolts.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had y to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. N

Fig. -1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus embodying my present invention and utilized for the purpose of packing a stack of metal sheets on the fioor of a freight car.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus with a stack of metal sheets held in position therevention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 'applicatic'mJ to the present in? 192s. serial no. 118,0021

the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that th'e` phraseology or terminology .employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and itis notintended to limit the invention beyond` the terms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of the prior art.

The present improved apparatus is illustrated in connection with the shipment of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, and in 'practice I prefer to load the freight car by conveyixig directly into the car the packs of metal without separately handling the individual sheets within the car. The packs or stacks are placed on the car ioor at each end of the car, side byside, and preferably spaced apart with the sheets running lengthwise of the car.

Each stack of sheets is bound and braced toether as a-unit to prevent the sheets shiftmg and breaking loose in which event considerable damage is done to the sheets as well as to the cars. One of the most serious probems in the shipping of sheet steel resides in the fact that when the sheets shift upon each other and strike an obstruction, the edgesor corners ofthe sheets become bent or crimped rendering them defective. Where the surfaces of the sheets are oiled and therefore slippery, as in the -present'practice of shipping sheet steel, great diiliculties'are met in attempting to hold. a heavy stack of sheets intact so that the individual sheets will not vslide and in order that the Whipping action of the sheets will not result in causing the edges of the sheets to become crimped.

In shipping sheet metal in accordance with my method it is of great importance that the.

' a weight of the apparatus forpacking the sheets in stacks in the car be reduced to a minimum.

The binder apparatus is preferably con- A structed to permit it to be returned from the consumer or manufacturer to the steel mill for use over and over again, and the freight cost therefore of shippingrrthe bracing is an important commercie factor.

It is, there- ,I

fore, important that the bracing apparatus be somewhat shorter than the shortest sheets to,

as light as possible and yet of sulicient strength to sustain the maximum impacts o1' shocks to which the freight cars are subjected.

In the drawings the present improved binder apparatus is illustrated in connection with the packin of metal sheets,'such as sheet steel, in a reight car. A pair of upper metal angle plates or bars are positioned-at the upper longitudinal corners of the bundle or pile of sheets S. At the lower longitudinal corners of the bundle are positioned a pair of angle plates or members 21 which in like manner embrace opposite corners of the bundle or stack of sheets. These angle members 20 and 21 are preferably be shipped so that they may be usedv in connection with bundles or stacks of different len hs. It will be seen that the weight of the undle is carried by the lower horizontal flanges 21 (see Fig. 5) of the lower angle members 21, and in the present instance these members are-provided with bottom gripping surfaces adapted to frictionally en age the floor of the car and resist the tenden y of the bundle to become displaced during transit. A metal friction gripping late 22 is carried by the flange or plate 21 o each angle member 21, this gripping plate being spaced therefrom by means of suitable metal spacers 23. The bottom of the gripping plates 22 which enga e the floor of the car are provided with sulta le spaced projections 25a/having flat bottom surfaces prov1dinga grippin surface, which will act to retard movement o the pack on the car floor but will not clinch the pack to the car floor a ainst movement under more severe shocks. t will be noted that the plate 21 is spaced from the grippin plate 22, thereby permitting the tying ca les. 28 to pass therebetween. As shown in Fig. 2, the wood spacers 26 where used in-addition to the metal spacers 23 are provided with transverse guide holes 27 through 'which extend the steel cables 28.

In the resent instance the bundle or stack of metal 1s tied or bound together by means of two sets of flexible cables each preferably Lustably connected together by means of turni dle, and upwardly uckles. Each of these sets of binding devices is identical in construction and com- Yrises a length of steel cable 28 which extends neath the bundle, 'between the plates 21* and 22 at opposite bottom corners of the buna substantial distance at opposite sides of t e bundle. Each steel cable 28 terminates iny a relatively large eye link 29 at each side of the bundle and preferably y ad'acent the to thereof. Connected to these vli 29 areY c ains 30- and 31 at opposite sides and these chains at the top of the undle are connected together b means ofa turnbuckle 32. Each turnbuc e 32 terminates at,

opposite ends in rab hooks 33 adapted to releas'ably seize anhold the body of the chains 30 and 31 at adjusted positions. It will thus be seen from the fore oing construction that the angle plates 20 and 21 embracing the four longitudinal corners of the bundle are interposed between the flexible tying cables andL the bundle and by tightening these cables by means of the turnbuckle, it will be apparent that the sheets will be securely clamped together at the horizontal corners thereof. An approximate adjustment of each cableis obtained by adjusting the chains 3() and 31 as tightly as possible in the bight of the grab hooks, and thereafter a tight 0r fine adjustment is obtained by turning the turnbuckles 32.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the steel cables 28 are 1guided and positioned by means of the guide oles 27 between the angle members 21 and grippinur plates 22 and that the wei ht of the bunde is not carried by these ca les. rllhe chains 30 and 31 at the top of the bundle are guided and positioned by means -of projecting pairs of guide studs or pins 34 secured to the top flanges of the angle plates 20.

At the four vertical end corners of the bundle or pile of sheets are placed angle membersI or standards 35, 36, 37 and 38. As in 'the case of the horizontal angle members 20 of a pair of adjusting bolts and nuts 42, the

bolts adapted to extend through any of a series of verticallyalined holes 43 in the end flange of each standard. From this constructionV it will'be seen that the several gusset lates 39 may be accordingly adjusted in diferent vertical positions on the posts 35-38. The ad'acent pair of standards 35 and 36 at one en of the bundle or stack is adjusted and clamped in position against the stack by means of upper and lower arallel transverse angle bars 44 and 52, and 1n like manner the opposite adjacent air of standards 37 and 38 are adjusted an clamped with respect to the stack bykmeans of a corresponding pair of transverse up rand lower b ars 45 and 53. The vertical anges 44 and 45 of the opposite 'upper .set of clamping bars 44 and 45 are positioned against t eouter faces of the gusset plates 39. The brace bars 44 and 45 are identical in construction and the vertical ilange 4ofeachbar is provided with a horizontal' series'of holes 46 spaced a pre. determined distance apart. y' The' gusset plates 3 9 are provided withv Qri'zplltlslots 4 and I the plates 39v and hencetlieanigle standardsA nected together by means of a set of adjustare adjusted toward and from .eachother relaf tively 'to the stack by meansofbo'ltsand nuts 48 passing through any of the holes v46'and adjustable in the slots 47 in the gusset plates. By .virtue of this construction the adjacent pairs of angle posts 35,36 and 37, 38 may e tightly clamped transversely against the' stack of sheets.

Each of the 4angle posts or standards at its' lower end is provided with an angle bracket 49 riveted thereto, the horizontal flanges 49*L of these brackets extending outwardly from the posts and provided with elongated slots 51.` The lower transverse adjusting and clamping bars 52 and 53 at opposite 'ends of the stack, are placed with the depending vertical flanges thereof abutting against the lower ends of the standards with the horizontal flanges 52a and 53a extending outwardly and abutting against thebot-tom of the flanges 49 of angle brackets 49. The horizontal flanges 52 and 53 of these bars are provided ,with a series of spaced holes 52", whereby Jthe standards together with angle brackets 49 maybe adjusted transversely with respect to thse bars by means of adjusting bolts and nuts 54 which pass through any of the holes 52b and through the slots l.

The bars 44 and 45 project at opposite ends beyond the standards and the corresponding ends thereof are adjustably connected together. This is accomplished at each side of the stack by sets of adjusting devices which are identical in construction each set comprising a pair of flat steel bars or straps 56 and 57 provided with spaced holes. The bars 56 and 57 are adapted to be overlapped in the proper adjusted positions and are connected together by means of two vsets of bolts and nuts 58 and 59. The bar 56 terminates in a threaded end 60 and in like manner the bar 57- at the opposite4 end of the stack terminates in a threaded end 61. The threaded ends 60 and 61 are adapted to extend'freely through certain of the holes 46, depending upon the width of the sheets, in the transverse bars 44 and 45, and are tightened by means of nuts 62 'and 63. The bars 52 and 53 are in like manner conbeing identical andcomprising flat steel bars in .d vices at 'each side of the stack, each set 64 all 65 each having a spaced'set of holes for the reception of adjusting nuts and bolts 66 by means of which the bars ma be overla ped and secured together in t e proper re ation. The Abar 64 has a threaded end 67 extending through certain of the ,holes 55 in the bar` 52 and-'adjusted by means of a nut 69. In like'manner the bar 65 has a threaded p' end 68 extending through any ofA a series of holes in the bar 53 and tightened means ofanut 70.

-71 aredrawn toget The stack of sheets are clamped midway of the pairs of standards 35, 36 and 37, 38 b means of angle members or devices. Eac of these devices comprises an angle plate 71 having a vertical flange 71"L provided withz a vertical slot 72 permitting the plateto be adjusted vertically with relation to the bar 44 or 45 by means of adjusting bolts -and nuts 78, -eac having a threaded end 79 extending freely through the hole 75 in bracket 74 .and tightened by means of a nut 76. The vbar-s 77 and 7 8L are each provided with a series of h oles 80 and are ad 'usted in-overlapping position by mea-ns of olts and nuts 81 and 82. An approximate adjustment of the bars 77 and 78 is obtained by means of the ad'usting bolts 81 and 82 and thereafter the plates lier by tightening the nuts 73, thus clamping the flanges 71b tightly against the top of the stack of sheets. It will be lseen that this construction not only provides an additional means for securing the bars 44 and 45 together intermediate the endsthereof, but also provides a means for holdin the end edges of the sheets against upwar movement resulting from the whipping action of the sheets.

In the preferred form lshown in Fig. J1

each of the upright standards or posts 35, 36, 37 and 38 1s provided on the inner face thereof with a vertical strip of cushioning material 83 which is preferably of wood or other relatively softer material. This construction is of considerable importance in envabling any relative movement of the sheets to be absorbed and cushioned withoutmesulting 1n causing the end edges ofthe sheets to become crimpd or bent. The provision of the wood-cus oning members 83 in contact with the end edges of the sheetsalso rovides a means for preventing the sheets rom curling up at the ends which is often the case when a severe blow causes the sheets vwhen in contact with. a metal 'surface to slide lio up the face thereof and. become bent or angle posts together at opposite sides by means of parallel tying devices, greater strength is obtained for `resisting'the tendency of the angle posts to buckle. At the same time a degree of flexibility is obtained l by this construction which-enables the 4posts embedded in the softer material 83. This the car receives a severe blow. I have discovered that the parallelogram construction, in providing greater strength and a degree of flexibility, enables angle posts of lighter Weight to be used land at the same time which will hold the stack intact without buckling. This is assisted by means of the parallel bars 44, 45, `52 and 53 which s an the adjacent standards, and by means o the gusset plates 39, which construction stilens the angle posts at the strain.

It-will be seen that the foregoing apparatus not only provides a stronger and at the same time more flexible construction having a minimum weight, but at .the same time a structure which may be ver easily assembled, To unload the car, 1t is merely necessary to remove the nuts 62, 63, 69, 70, and 76 to remove the parallel adjusting bars at the longitudinal sides and top of the bundle, and thereupon the angle posts or -standards maybe removed from the stack in pairs' without removing the bars 44 and 52 or 45 and 53. Thereafter a lifting apparatus may be wheeled into position to straddle the stack, and the four depending hooks of the hoisting mechanism may be connected to the eye links 29.' The bundle may then be lifted bodily from the floor of the car to permit the platform of a load elevating truck to be inserted beneath'the bundle and receive the same. Y The truck is then pro pelled out of the car with the bundle and delivered at any desired point.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pack of metal sheets, or the like, is supported above the car floor through the mepoints where they are under greatest lum of the rigid supporting members comrisin parts 21", 22, 23 and 26, which actcto liold t e sheets of the pack substantially flat inhorizontal planes and prevent bowing or bending of the pack in the center, so that the end portions ofthe sheets extend horizontally against the Wood members 83. It will be i noted that these members 83, of softer material than the metal sheets, are positively drawn under pressure a ainst the end edges of the metal s eets whic ly of the car. Owing to the fact that in practice slight variations in the length of the sheets occur, the vertical face of the pack at its endwill be irregular or ragged.V Sufcient pressure ma be a plied to cause the end 'edges of the shghtly' onger sheets to be may take up the slight variations in length of sheets, and also result in binding the ver-- tical face of the pack againstthe material 83,

preventin crimping or curling action of the sli htly s orter sheets resulting fom'longitu inal vibration thereof within the pack.

What I claim is: i 1. An apparatus of the class described,

extend transverse-4 comprising two airsv ofstandards for engaging opposite sides of a stack of metal adjacent the corners thereof, a bar spannin each pair of standards, and three sets of a justing means for connecting said bars to clamp the lstandards against the stack, one of said sets extending over the top of the stack.

2. An'apparatus of the class described,

'comprisingtwo pairs of buttresses for engaging opposite sides'of a stack of metal, an angle bar s anning'each pair of buttresses, and means or adjustably connecting the corresponding ends of said'bars.

3. An apparatus of the class described, comprising two pairs of buttresses for engaging opposite sides of arstack of metal, cushioning means interposed between said buttresses and the stack, a bar spanning each pair of buttresses, and a rigid brace member for adjustably connecting the corresponding ends of said bars. l

4. Anapparatus -of the class described,

comprising two pairs of buttresses at opposite sides of a stack 'of metal, a pairof parallel bars spanning each pair of buttresses, and a pair of parallel membersforadjustalbly connecting the corresponding ends of said ars.

5'. An apparatus of the class described, comprising two pairs of angle members for embracing the vertical corners of the stack of metal, means for adjusting said members transversely of the stack, and parallel devices for adjusting said members longitudinallyv 8. An apparatus 'of the 4class described,

comprising two pairs of buttresses for engaglng opposite sides of a stack of vmetaL'four palrs of parallel devices, a pair at each side of .the stack, adjustably connected together for clamping said ,buttresses against. the stack, `and, cushioning means. .of relatively softer material interposed between said buttresses and the stack..

I9. An apparatus of the class comprising two pairs of buttresses for enga-g'- in'g oppositev sides of aJstack of metal, four v pairs of parallel4 devices, a pair yat eachside of the sta-ck and each :pair at the'ends thereof adjustably comfected to the endsfoff-'ad'jhc'eit I described', I

pairs, forv clamping said buttresses against the stack. l

10. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of means for clamping tof gether a pack of metal sheets in a car, angle members embracing opposite corners of the pack intermediate the vertical corners thereof, and means extendin lengthwise 'of the car and over the top o the stack for c on- 4 lo necting said angle members together.

necting said angle members together.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for clampingtogether a pack of'metal sheets in a car and including standards having means for embracing the vertical corners of the stack, angle members embracing opposite corners of the stack lintermediatethe vertical corners thereof, means extendin lengthwise of the l car and over the top o the stack for con- 0 necting said angle members together, and

means for adjustably connecting said angle members and standards. a i

13. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of standards having means for embracing the four vertical corners of a stack of metal, a transverse bar spanning each 4adJacent air of standards, a gusset plate interposed) between each standard and each bar, means for ad'ustably connecting each gusset plate'with its standard, means for adjustably connecting each bar with a pair of -said gusset plates, and means for adjustably connecting said bars together.

14. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination of metal standards at each of two opposite ends of a stack of metal, a transverse barextending across the adjacent standards, a metal member inte sed between each bar and standard, means for verticallyv adusting each memberv relative to its standar means for adjusting each bar horizontally relative to a pair of said members, and means for adjusting said bars toward and from each other.

15.' In combination with a pile of metal sheets dis osed on acar floor, said pile pre'- senting e ges of the sheets in a vertical face extending transversely of the car which is relatively ragged due to slight'disalignment 30 of the edges, apparatus for binding the pile during transit comprising cushioning material relatively softer than the sheets engag ing' the said vertical ragged face o'f the pile,

means overlying s aid material and reinforc-I ,35 ing and backing the material,v` the combined means and material having suicient rigidity to resist bending under embedding pressure, and adjustable devices at two opposite verti cal faces of the pile extending longitudinally of the carfor pressing said means and material toward said ragged face to embed the edges of the sheets in said material substantially throughout said rag ed face.

16. Incombination wit a pile of metal sheets dis osed on a car iioor, said pile resenting e ges of the sheets in a vertlcalace extending transversely ofthe car and which isrelatively ragged due to slight disalignment of the edges, apparatus for binding the pile during transit comprising cushioning material relatively softer than the sheets engaging the vertical ragged face of the ile,

means overlying lsaid material and rein orcing and bac ing the material, the combined means and material 'having suilcient rigidity to resist bendin `under embedding pressure, and adjustable evices at two opposite faces of the pile for pressing said means and mavterialtoward said ragged transversely extending face to embed the ed es of the sheets in said materialv substantia ly throughout Y said ragged face.

17. In combination with a pile of metal sheets disposed on a car iioorsaid pilepresenting edges of the sheets in two vertical faces extendin transversely of the car and which are relatively ragged due to slight dis-` alignment ofthe sheet edges, apparatus for binding the pile during transit comprising cushioning material relatively softer than the sheets engaging the ragged vertical faces of.-

the pile, means overlying the material at each face and reinforcing and backing the ma.- terial, the combined means and materialhaving'suicient rigidity to resist bending under embedding pressure, and adjustable devices yat two opposite faces of the. pile for pressing .said means and materialtoward said ragge faces to embededges of the sheets in said material substantially throughout each of said ragged faces. 'f

18. In combination with a' pile of metal sheets disposed on a car floor, saidpile presenting edges ofthe sheets in two vertical vfaces'extending transversely of the car and lwhich are relatively ragged due to slight disalignment of the sheet edges, apparatus for binding the pile during transit comprising cushioning material relatively softer than the sheets engaging the ragged vertical faces of the pile, means overlying the I naterialat'v each face and reinforcing and backing the material, the combined means and material having sullicient rigidity to resist bending under embedding pressure, and adjustable devicesr at two opposite lfaces of the pile for pressing said means andvmaterial toward said ragged faces to embed edges of the sheets in said materialsumbstantially throughout each of said ragged faces, said devices connecting said means to one another.

19. In combination 4with a pile of metal sheets disposed on a car floor, said pile presenting the edgesk of the sheets in'two vertical'n faces extending transversel of the car, each l face being relativel ragge due to slight dis-` alignment; of the s eet edges, apparatus for binding the pile during transit com rising cushioning material relatively softer t an the sheets engagin both vertical ragged faces of the pile, ri i members overlying said material to rein orce and back the material, said members having sufficient rigidity to resist bending under pressure exerted thereon to embed the sheet edgesinto the material, and 'adjustable devices at two opposite faces of the pile for pressing said members and material toward said aces to embedy edges of the sheets in said material substantially throu hout said' ragged vertical faces. 20. n combination with a pile of metal sheets disposed on a car floor, said pile presenting the edges of the sheets in two vertical faces extending transversely of the car,

each face being relatively ragged due to slight disalignment of the sheet edges, apparatus for binding the pile during transit comprisin cushioning material relatively softer than t e sheets engagin both vertical ragged faces of the pile, r1 i ymembers overlylng said material to rein orce-and back the material, said members having suilicient rigidity to resist bending under pressure exerted thereon to embed the sheet edges into-the material, and adjustable devices at two opposite sides of the pile for pressing said members and material toward said faces toembed edges of the sheets in said material substan- 40 tially throughout said ragged yvertical faces.

21. In combination with a pile of metal` sheets disposed on a car floor, said pile presenting the edges of the sheets in two ver; tical faces extendin transversely of the car,

each face being r atively ragged .due to slightidisalignment of the sheet edges, apparatus for binding the pile during translt comprisin cushioning material relativel softer than t e sheets engagin both`vertica ragged faces of the pile, r1 members overlying said material to rein orce and back the material, said members having suicient rigidity to r sist bending under pressure exerted ther; on to embed the sheet edges into the material, and adjustable devices at two opposite sides of the pile forpressing said means and material toward said faces to embed edges of thesheets in said material substantia 1y throughout said ragged vertical faces, 00 said devicesconnecting said members to one another whereby to simultaneously draw thev same toward one another when adJusted. n

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

e y ROBERT T. Roman.y 

